Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith will miss the rest of the 2026 WNBA season after suffering a left leg injury, the team announced Thursday. The Aces did not provide specifics about the injury, did not confirm whether surgery is needed, and did not offer a recovery timeline.
Smith was hurt in the third quarter of the Aces' win over the Toronto Tempo on Sunday. With just over three minutes remaining in the quarter, Smith was running in transition when guard Jackie Young threw her a pass. Smith jumped to catch the ball, and when she landed, her left leg immediately buckled. She collapsed and began slapping the court with one hand while holding her leg with the other. She could not put any weight on the leg as she was helped off the court.
Through 38 games this season, Smith was averaging 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 63.8 percent from the field, a career high. She arrived in Las Vegas last June via a trade with the Dallas Wings and helped the team win its third title in four years last season.
According to CBS Sports, Smith flew under the radar on a team built around four-time MVP A'ja Wilson, guard Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray. But her role was significant. Rather than forcing jumpers or creating off the dribble, Smith became an elite cutter and efficient finisher in the paint. She shot 60.8 percent off cuts, and her 108 points on such plays ranked fourth in the league before her injury. She also ranked ninth in offensive rebounds per game at 2.2.
The Aces were already among the worst offensive rebounding teams in the league before losing Smith. CBS Sports reported that their offensive rebounding rate without Smith would be the worst mark in league history over a full season.
The only other frontcourt players with meaningful minutes this season are Brianna Turner and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus. Turner is a capable defender but has scored just 56 points in 480 minutes. Parker-Tyus averages 5.2 points on 52.4 percent shooting but has struggled defensively. The team's defensive rating with Parker-Tyus on the floor this season is 113.2.
The Aces now face a choice between going smaller and moving Wilson to center, or sliding Turner or Parker-Tyus into the starting lineup. Neither option is straightforward heading into the playoff stretch.
